I COULDN’T agree more with your correspondent Mrs A Tabb of Bedworth (February 8); it’s like a breath of fresh air when you read letters of appreciation and thanks.

The Telegraph could cheer things up by making the front page a “good news page” and perhaps rewarding the “letter writer of the week”.

People of the older generation, especially in Coventry, cannot but have a gloomy view and show disappointment with this country and Coventry’s situation as it is today and the direction it is heading.

They lived through the hard times of the 20s and 30s through World War Two, served their country on active service or on the important Home Front, experiencing all the hazards of war. Post-war, particularly in Coventry, they contributed to the rebuilding of the city, worked hard to improve themselves and their working conditions, helped by the trade unions who negotiated better holiday entitlements and fair wages.

Production lines were at full stretch and Coventry was labelled “Boom Town”, its skilled engineering industries too many and too varied to label, helping to build a healthy economy for Great Britain.

It is only natural that in retirement the one-time essential skilled workers look around the city to see vast empty spaces where these industries thrived and can only have doubtful thoughts for their grandchildren’s future.